"Any of you guys that hiked north out of Dinsmores around Oct 17th or later….we are looking for Ian Sarmento, "I'm Fine". He was the last one out of here NOBO. Has not picked up mail at Stehekin yet. Has not checked in anywhere. He left here on Oct 17th. Please contact me if you hiked north from here or saw him on the trail before or after Stehekin. I spoke to his Mom and she heard from Ian on October 14th. SAR has been called. He only took food for 6-7 days. His pic is up on the Class of 2012 on the PCT Facebook page. Need any info we can get.

360.677.1237

Thanks,

Andrea Dinsmore
PCT MOM"

The North Cascades have been hit almost continuously by heavy rain and snow since early October. Through-hikers are a dedicated lot; you hate to stop 150 miles short of your 2600 mile goal, but still…..you have to know when to quit and be willing to do so.

Somebody beat me to it, and there are quite a few comments there, mostly just concern but some may be useful. One of the posters there is from the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, so that thread is being watched by SAR. There is a phone number to contact for those with information.

Seriously hiking and backpacking isn't an adventure sports, people like this missing hiker and another one in the Sierra's think they are some sort of dare devils and just cause too much anxiety to their loved ones and also make us winch our face for a moment when reading these missing hiker threads. Can't even think about all the tax payers money, time and effort of SAR teams to find this arrogant people. I'm glad he is found and not sure if the Sierra hiker will have the same luck (read that the SAR is being called off) but still loonies like these should be censored and discouraged to keep them sane.

read the last but one post on nwhikers where few people tried convincing this guy to camp for the day..also read the poster regrets that he should have been more convincing, its good he was found but think if he came back in a body bag, those people who suggested him to camp would have felt a lot worse..

Judging from the posts on several forums regarding the attitude, experience, and hiking styles of the men involved, this hiker is different from the one in the Sierra. I have also hiked this same section of the PCT, albeit without the snow.

Yes, he knowing headed out into tough country and in-coming weather, confident he could make it through. He did, albeit taking far longer than he had planned and carried food for. He paid for this miscalculation by going the last 5 days without food. Try that while walking 90 miles through snow and buried trail in a roadless wilderness where you know you are the only one likely to be out there. You really have to know what you're doing and be able to keep your wits about you at all times.

The fact that he did make it unaided through the snow and some of the toughest terraine on the PCT testifies to the level of his outdoor skills and gear choices, and also validates his initial premise for continuing in the first place.

After she finishes hugging and kissing him, his mother may well break his little neck for scaring the dejeebers out of her that way. I suspect he won't be sitting down for several days. I'm sure SAR will have a few comments for him as well, although I'm sure they're pleased with the outcome too.